Toggle switch construction



1957 M. ZANICHKOWSKY ETAL 2,808,482

TOGGLE SWITCH CONSTRUCTION Filed April 12, 1956 F|6 1 IGZ INVENIOR MARTIN ZANICHKOWSKY y ANTHONY ,1. SCI'ARINNO United States Patent TOGGLE SWITCH CONSTRUCTION Martin Zanichkowsky, Richmond Hill, and Anthony J. Sciarinno, Massapequa, N. Y., assignors to Miniature Switch Corp., Oceanside, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 12, 1956, Serial No. 577,861

4 Claims. (Cl. 200-67) This invention relates to toggle switch means and more particularly to new and improved designs, construction and method of assembling for switch means.

One of the primary problems in the design and construction of snap action or toggle switches is the adjustment of the spring loading to assure positive action.

Another problem is that of assembling the toggle linkage and spring assembly inside the switch casing. This problem is particularly pertinent to the construction and design of very small switches of the sub-miniature type. The moving parts inside the case generally consist of a pivotally mounted lever and a spring loaded linkage including two members loosely joined by a ball and socket connection. It is quite difiicult to assemble these loose pieces and then insert them in the casing since they are only held together by the casing. The prior practice has been to stick the loose parts together with grease and then insert them in the casing. This is not a positive method and quite frequently has to be repeated several times before a successful assembly.

The present invention comprises a new and improved device wherein the case is sealed first and the linkage members are then inserted through a hollow handle. A spring is then inserted to load the linkage rod members and an adjustable cap is screwed in at the top of the handle. With this method of construction the linkage members are positively lined up and also the spring tension may be adjusted externally at any time.

Accordingly, a principal object of the invention is to provide new and improved toggle switch means and methods of construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide toggle switch means adapted to be externally assembled.

Another object of the invention is to provide toggle switch means wherein the spring loading tension may be externally adjusted.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved sub-miniature toggle switch means.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and drawings, of which:

Figure l is a sectional side view of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of the embodiment of Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1, the invention comprises an upper casing 1 and a base member 2. Electrical terminals 3, 4, and are fixedly connected to the base member 2 by conventional means, for instance, by riveting. The terminals 3 and 5 are connected to internal contacts 13 and 15 and the terminal 4 is connected to a block 14 of metal which contains a groove 16. A lever 17 has a projecting member 18 which is pivotally mounted in the groove 6. The lever 17 has a pair of contacts 23 and 25 which are adapted to contact the fixed contacts 13 and 15 to complete a circuit between either terminals 3 and 4 or 4 and 5.

The upper portion of the casing 1 comprises an externally threaded shaft 10 having an opening at the top to permit the insertion of a handle 11. The handle 11 is preferably a hollow cylinder having an expanded portion 8 at its lower end, the outer surface of which is curved and adapted to nest in the curved inner surface of the casing shaft 10. Therefore, the handle is adapted to be moved back and forth in the aperture 7 in the top of the shaft 10.

The handle is connected to actuate the lever 17 as follows: The lever 17 has a member 20 fixedly connected to it or integral with it, which member or portion 20 has a depression or socket 21 in its upper center portion. The handle 11 is connected to the lever 17 by means of a linkage comprising a first rod member 30, which is rounded at its lower end and is adapted to sit in the socket 21. The member 30 has a socket in its upper end which is adapted to receive the rounded lower portion of second rod member 31 which is slidably mounted in the hollow shaft of the handle 11. A spring 32 is inserted in the hollow shaft of the handle 11 on top of the member 31 and the linkage is locked and adjusted by the threaded cap member 33 which is screwed into the threaded upper portion of the handle 11. Therefore, the spring compression or loading can be adjusted at all times externally. The switch is adapted to be mounted on a panel 34 by means of nut 35 in conventional manner.

The method of assembly of the switch is as follows: The handle is first inserted 'in the casing 1. The lever assembly is mounted on the base member 2 and the entire base assembly is then fastened to the upper casing 1 in conventional manner, preferably forming a water proof seal between the upper and lower members. The base member may be cemented and also mechanically fastened to the upper member, for instance, by turning over the walls of the upper member around the base member or by other equivalent mechanical methods.

The linkage is assembled as follows: The handle is held straight up and down, and drop the first linkage member 30 through the hollow handle. The member 30 will therefore drop in the socket 21 and will probably lean against one of the side walls of the casing 1. The position of the member 30 may be ascertained by looking down through the hollow member. Alternatively, with a little practice, by tilting the handle 11 slightly to one side the operator can insure in which direction the member 30 will lean. The handle is then lined up with the top of the member 30 and the second linkage member 31 is dropped into place. The spring 32 is then dropped in on top of the member 31 and the threaded casing 33 is screwed into the handle member 11, which is internally threaded at its upper end.

As can be seen, the present construction provides a simple, positive, and economical method of external assembly, and furthermore, provides means for adjusting the spring loading externally at all times. This is desirable as the spring member will undoubtedly age and change its compression characteristics. These characteristics will probably also be affected by variations in temperature and humidity conditions. The cap 33 should provide a moisture-proof seal. However, if desired, a suitable gasket could be used.

The present invention is particularly advantageous for construction of very small switches of the sub-miniature type due to the easy assembly of the very small linkage parts in these switches. Switches constructed according to the present teaching have been constructed with the larger base dimension less than half an inch and the other dimensions in proportion. Therefore, utilizing the present teaching, very small switches can be constructed which have the same current carrying capacity and voltage rating as much larger switches, thereby effecting a greater 3 savings in material and also in space on the control panel. This is a very important feature in many types of devices such as computers wherein many hundreds oi switches are mounted within the reach of one operator.

We la m:

1. A toggle switch comprising a hollow casing having a base, a pair of contacts mounted in said base, a lever pivotally mounted relative said contacts and adapted to contact said contacts separately, a handle member having a shaftway therein pivotally mounted in said casing, linkage means comprising a first rod member slidably mounted in said hollow handle and a second rod member contacting said lever, a spring in said handle shaftway contacting said first rod member, and adjustable means on said handle member to adjust said spring compression.

2. A toggle switch comprising a hollow casing having a base, a pair of contacts mounted in said base, a lever pivotally mounted relative said contacts and adapted to contact said contacts separately, a handle member having a shaftway therein movably mounted in said casing, linkage means comprising a first rod member slidably mounted in said handle shaftway and a second rod member contacting said lever, a spring in said handle shaftway contacting said first rod member, adjustable means on said handle member to adjust said spring compression, said adjustable means comprising an internally threaded portion in said handle member shaftway, and a threaded cap adapted to screw into said threaded portion to adjust the loading of said spring.

3. A toggle switch comprising a hollow casing having a base, a pair of contacts mounted in said base, a lever pivotally mounted relative said contacts and adapted to contact said contacts separately, a handle member having a shaftway pivotally mounted in said casing, linkage means comprising a first rod member slidably mounted in said handle and a second rod member contacting said lever, a spring in said handle contacting said first rod member, and externally adjustable means on said handle member to adjust said spring compression.

4. A method of construction for toggle switches of the type having a pivotally mounted lever, a toggle linkage, and a hollow handle comprising the steps of, dropping a first linkage member through said handle, dropping a second linkage member through said handle, dropping a spring through said handle, and placing a cap on said handle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,677,710 Daniker July 17, 1928 2,042,109 Lamb May 26, 1936 2,757,252 Sparr et al July 31, 1956 

